US SPRINTER Christian Coleman could miss next month’s world championships and next summer’s Olympics after it was alleged he has missed a series of drugs tests.
The world’s fastest man is fighting for his reputation today after claims he is disputing one of three whereabouts failures over the past 12 months.
If his case proves unsuccessful, and his three strikes remain intact, Coleman, 23, could be banned from the sport for up to two years – which would rule out of September’s IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
SunSport has contacted Coleman’s management company. USADA, WADA and the IAAF have all declined to comment.
It is believed Coleman’s legal team dispute one of the alleged whereabouts violations.
Athletes have to supply drug testers with their specific whereabouts for one hour every day in case they are required to give an impromptu sample.
It wouldn’t feel right if I had to cheat or do anything malicious to anybody else to win.
Christian Coleman
If they are not at the allocated location when testers arrived, then a strike goes against their name.
Three strikes would result in a suspension from the sport.
Coleman has been the world’s leading male runner over the past three years and is considered to be the successor to the retired sprint legend Usain Bolt from Jamaica.
The Atlanta-born star won a silver medal in the 100m at the 2017 World Athletics Championships and is favourite to achieve the world-Olympic double.
This month, he told SunSport he was committed to clean running and that athletics fans in the UK could believe what they were watching.
Coleman said: “I can only talk on my behalf. And if you’re referring to me – ‘Can you believe what I’m doing in the sport? – then yes. That’s how I was raised.
“Work hard, rely on your talents and God-given ability. It wouldn’t feel right if I had to cheat or do anything malicious to anybody else to win.
“The sport has cranked down on drug testing. We’ve to go on a website and tell people where we are at all times.
“They pop up and test me four, five, sometimes six times a month. I guess they’re doing the same with all the other athletes. Hopefully everybody is on the same level-playing field as I am.”
Source: Athletics - thesun.co.uk
